The End

Good Night! This marks the final blog post from Brian Borgman’s book Don’t Waste Your Breath, we will examine Chapter twenty titled “When All Is Said and Done” from Ecclesiastes 12:9-14.

^“In addition to being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. The words of the wise are like goads, and masters of these collections are like driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive study is wearying to the body. The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

“We have come to the end of the ride. There have been bumps, jolts, hard turns, and even a whiplash or two. But the ride was worth it. The lessons learned and the perspectives gained are invaluable. Now we come to the grand conclusion, and Qoheleth is going to tie the threads together” (204). Borgman begins with an excellent point, the Preacher has taught people knowledge, he pondered, and arranged many proverbs, so we can conclude again at the end that life is not vanity, rather it is a fleeting vapor. It is a vapor that passes yet the Teacher has made clear it is worth gaining knowledge and passing it on to the glory of God. Just because we will be dust and long forgotten does not negate the positive edifying and glorifying effects of pursuing God.

The Teacher “sought delightful words and to write words of truth correctly” (vs 10), “Qoheleth has set the truth in front of us in a way that, although sometimes painful, strikes home, resonates, makes sense of our lives, and gives a satisfying perspective” (204). The beauty of Ecclesiastes has revealed itself in many ways over the last nineteen weeks. At the beginning perhaps we were a little scared of the deeper waters, but after having been submerged we were enriched and committed to not wasting our breath. The beauty of the Teachers words makes me envious to say the least, by the Spirit making an impact in every generation that has taken to heart its teachings. We should not bask in envy though, it should motivate us to ask God for wisdom and ability, to increase our faith and our ability to communicate wisdom to others. Your writing or speaking may not sound delightful in the early stages, but with practice and active spiritual discipline by the Spirit you will increase in ability. The Teachers heart was toward God in all he wrote, that is key in our seeking to communicate truth in a appealing way. Truth is delightful to those who completely rely on God and His understanding. Truth is not delightful to those who seek to justify their creaturely understanding. Despite its dividing nature truth must be spoken and spoken well. We have no need for “spiritual fast food” nor should we propagate fast food, instead we should like the Teacher prepare “thoughtfully prepared meals of wisdom and knowledge” (204). As we practice spiritual disciplines, take in sermons, and live life we gain the experience and knowledge necessary to prepare these meals. When opportunity presents itself, we by the Spirit serve these meals to hearts made ready by God. Good meals grow strong bones, muscle, or strong roots, spiritual fast food does not, it merely holds you over- in some cases it leaves you with trash to take out of your system.

The end of this chapter, and the book, is an excellent summation of the focus and aim of our lives going forward. “The conclusion…fear God and keep his commandments.” “Qoheleth’s grand conclusion is the logical conclusion and necessary application of everything he has said in the whole book” (207). All of the blog posts, and all of the reading has been directed to this conclusion. Fear God, he is the one outside of all things yet sovereignly guiding all things by His providence. In this study we have thoroughly explored His providence, how we are but creatures in creation and that we can take comfort in submitting to God’s sovereignty. We also studied that He cares for us, and sent His Son to die for us, that we could live free from fear outside of Him. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom like the ABCs are the beginning of reading. Before you can read you need to learn the alphabet, but once you learn to read you rely on the alphabet for the ability to continue to read” (207). Complete submission to the Trinitarian Fullness of God is the beginning of a full and fulfilling life in Him. Fear of the Lord leads us to that fulfilling submission, creaturely fear of the almighty creator.

Fear the Lord and Keep His Commandments! We must keep his commandments. He has given us the ability to keep his commandments. He has reordered our wills and desires; He has allowed us to see and feel the weight and result of our sin. He has set us free from that slavery to sin and made us willing to believe, and as a new creature now slave to righteousness. If we are slaves of righteousness, then let us continue in the work set before us (Ephesians 2:9). In earlier posts we hammered home the idea that we are not saved by works, but by faith, the double imputation of Christ’s perfect obedience to the law and His expiation of God’s wrath and propitiation for our sins on the Cross. He has forever perfectly made sacrifice on our behalf, he doesn’t need our help, or an assist. He did all the work! Yet the scripture is clear, those who are in Christ must have faith in Him and must live life for Him. We are not to continue in sin that grace may abound, we are to live lives worthy of the calling, making good use of our breath, by the indwelling Spirit. “Obey His call to enjoy this fleeting life. Obey His call to trust Him. Obey His call to submit to Him in all humility. Obey His call to receive this short breath of a life as a gift. Keep in mind His majesty, His sovereignty, His mercy, His might, His holiness. Your anchor in the mist is the character of God, even when what He is doing is veiled with mystery” (208). This book has been excellent at communicating the facts and emotions of life spent in Christ, a creature glorying in His complete inability apart from the Trinitarian Fulness of God. Don’t waste your breath! All will come into judgment and all that we think is hidden will be exposed. This is where Christ shines forth, our repentance from the heart, our love for the law of the Lord and our life lived being sanctified day by day by the Spirit. He has reordered your will, be attentive to the Spirit, stay consistent your spiritual disciplines. Time spent with the body of Christ, or with Christ in family or private worship, or in mental worship while at work, is highest and best use of your breath, in fact this is the God designed use for your breath.

Praise God for the strength and ability to finish this series. I am a chicken farmer that is just barely making it, anything you have been edified by is all the grace of God. I pray each post has glorified Him and been His means of grace to make scripture plain. Apart from Him I can do nothing (John 15:5), and in Him I can do all things (Philippians 4:13). Wholly reliant, completely submissive to the sovereign Trinitarian Fullness of God. Praise God for the indwelling Spirit, scripture, and a loving confessional church. I am not sure where we head next on the chicken farm but hold tight! At this current time our congregation is going through Hebrews from the pulpit (Please check out Cody’s sermons on this site)and 1 Samuel in Sunday class. If you are looking for a church family please come visit us at Crossroads Reformed Bible Church in Rockdale, Texas, one last time -Don’t Waste Your Breath!